Is Trick or Treating ruined for you?

[queenofthehivemomof5]

It is usually very cold here on Halloween and we usually hit activities that are hosted inside. But I do keep some goodie bags on hand for the few brave souls that are willing to go door to door. I love seeing the costumes and the teens here are usually pretty good about dressing up in something if they go trick or treating. I think I have only had one kid last year with no costume. And as far as I am concerned your still a kid till you reach 18 and are an adult. So my kids can go as long as they want to. My 12 year old is still a kid and is looking forward to dressing up. Our twins birthday is on Halloween...its the best day to have a birthday. Play dress up and eat candy..who needs a party? LOL

[biscottilover]

I don't think it's tacky to take your costumed kids around to the neighbors' houses. Great idea. That is very thoughtful to distribute candy to those kids that you know, just in case, even if you're going to put out a bowl.

I'm not sure about teenage treat-or-treaters. I wish they would make an effort if they do come out. Throw on a trash bag and be a ghost. Or throw on a trash bag and tape some leaves and empty egg/milk containers on it, and be a trash can.

The nursing home can be a great place to take the kids. There are some places that have the residents line up in the common room and each resident has their own little "home" to give away candy. The kids love this, and they can keep on going round and round in line, getting more candy because the residents don't mind!

In the neighborhood I grew up in, I was pretty much the last generation of children. It is now a retired neighborhood. My parents have had about 5 ToT'ers a year at most for a long time, last year they only had 1.

Same here. This is why I don't see any problem with "busloads" of kids coming from/to other neighborhoods. When there's no other kids on the street and most of the retirees don't give out any treats, decorate their houses or celebrate, there's no atmosphere. It wasn't all about the candy --- it's about the atmosphere, letting your kids see other kids dressed up, comparing costumes, and pointing out original outfits. The newer neighborhoods have people roaming the streets, and more holiday spirit, I feel.

[extechy]

I had the most fun trick or treating as a teen.

It's really kind of a joke among teens but it is a lot of fun. I'd rather have a bunch of teens trick or treating at my home than having them out rolling yards and throwing eggs on Halloween. And lets not even get into the real trouble they could be getting into!

[momof2inohio]

[quote=biscottilover;2085609]I don't think it's tacky to take your costumed kids around to the neighbors' houses. Great idea. That is very thoughtful to distribute candy to those kids that you know, just in case, even if you're going to put out a bowl.

I'm not sure about teenage treat-or-treaters. I wish they would make an effort if they do come out. Throw on a trash bag and be a ghost. Or throw on a trash bag and tape some leaves and empty egg/milk containers on it, and be a trash can.

The nursing home can be a great place to take the kids. There are some places that have the residents line up in the common room and each resident has their own little "home" to give away candy. The kids love this, and they can keep on going round and round in line, getting more candy because the residents don't mind!



Same here. This is why I don't see any problem with "busloads" of kids coming from/to other neighborhoods. When there's no other kids on the street and most of the retirees don't give out any treats, decorate their houses or celebrate, there's no atmosphere. It wasn't all about the candy --- it's about the atmosphere, letting your kids see other kids dressed up, comparing costumes, and pointing out original outfits. The newer neighborhoods have people roaming the streets, and more holiday spirit, I feel[/quote]

One family in our neighborhood has a huge haunted house they make in their front yard. They really put a lot of time and money into it and its really fun. People from a ton of different neighborhoods come to see it. i love going around to just see the decorations as well. Some people are so creative.

When I was a kid we always had this one house we went to first in our neighborhood. It was the guy who owns all of the Hallmark stores. He always gave out movies or huge bags of stuff.

[rmoore4u2c]

I have 4 children and 1 grandchild. I ABSOLUTELEY LOVE HALLOWEEN! All of my kids do as well, and my Grandaughter who will soon be 2, does too. I Love to decorate for it and get a complete Blast out of passing out candy. Halloween was and still is a Really BIG DEAL in our house. When my kids were younger my husband or myself would take them out Trick or Treating all around our neighborhood for as long as possible, and the other would give out candy. My oldest daughters last year for trick or treating was about 13, My oldest sons was last year at 17, he won't go this year. and my youngest just turned 14 and can't wait to go this year. My kids Love to dress up for the Holiday! and come up with some Pretty Good ideas for costumes. I like the idea of dressing up but not all kids can and if a teenager still wants to go Trick or Treating, why Not? YOUR NEVER TOO OLD TO HAVE FUN!

[NIGHTB1022]

I have 4 children and 1 grandchild. I ABSOLUTELEY LOVE HALLOWEEN! All of my kids do as well, and my Grandaughter who will soon be 2, does too. I Love to decorate for it and get a complete Blast out of passing out candy. Halloween was and still is a Really BIG DEAL in our house. When my kids were younger my husband or myself would take them out Trick or Treating all around our neighborhood for as long as possible, and the other would give out candy. My oldest daughters last year for trick or treating was about 13, My oldest sons was last year at 17, he won't go this year. and my youngest just turned 14 and can't wait to go this year. My kids Love to dress up for the Holiday! and come up with some Pretty Good ideas for costumes. I like the idea of dressing up but not all kids can and if a teenager still wants to go Trick or Treating, why Not? YOUR NEVER TOO OLD TO HAVE FUN!

Heck yeah! I'm 55 and I wanna go! LOL

[hotcouponmama]

I trick or treated until I was 17. Had a BF at 18 who said "no" and took me out to dinner instead.

My rule - I don't care if you're 100 - no costume, no candy for you - one year! You better bring your butt back to my house dressed if you want a do-over the following year.

[tn20]

I don't care about the age, as long as the kids are polite and respectful. Too often young kids and teenagers are greedy and just plain rude. I prefer them to be costumed, but I'd rather have a non-costumed polite kid than a brat with a costume.

About infants, I am planning on taking my 3 month old foster daughter out with the other kids (7,3,2) ToTing. Her costume isn't really a costume, its a dress, top, and jacket from Gymboree's Dalmatian line, so its all Dalmatian print with puppy ears on the jacket hood. Too cute; I'm excited!

I don't plan on taking a goody bag for her, though. But last year, I had to take DS6, DS2, DFosterD3, and DFosterS1 out by myself and DFS1 did have a treat bag. I just split the candy he got among the other 3 kids because we didn't get to go to very many houses.

[jenrose]

I took DS2 ToTing as an infant in his tigger costume. He was soo cute. And I went ToTing as a teenager. So no problems here. We don't get many kids in my neighborhood but I take DS's to the businesses 2 towns over, My mom's neighborhood and then sometimes hit a church carnival while I'm at it. I try to make it a big affair for the boys, they love it.

[mmb1996]

Are you serious?? The babies are the cutest in costume, I love seeing them dressed up. Of course the babies arent going to eat the candy but its still fun for the parents to show them off. Its candy not gold bars your handing out. I had a friend who felt the way you did and I told her to give her good candy to the little kids and the dum-dums or whatever cheap candy to the teenagers and babies.

I don't care how old the teens are, if they ring my bell I will give them candy. I know this is a common problem cause I have been hearing about it for years but its one I never understood. Whats wrong with a 15 year old trick or treating? I just don't get it. I guess I can see if you really didn't have the money for candy but you still wanted to give out treats to the neighborhood kids. Get the cheap stuff for the ones you dont know or think is to old or young, u can get like a million smarties or whatever for a buck or two at the dollar store.

We get kids from all over because most places banned trick or treating or its just not safe to trick or treat where they live. One lady on our block wanted to pass out buttons so we would know who lived on our block to give candy toThat really upset me, I mean really??? For the price of those buttons she wanted to print up we could of bought enough candy for 500 extra kids.